If you have questions about the opinion section, contact Erik Lukens, editorial and commentary editor, at elukens@oregonian.comor 503-221-8142.

The details of the scandal engulfing the Department of Veterans Affairs have trickled out in recent months. In short: Many veterans have to wait much longer than they should to qualify for VA medical care after being discharged from the military. Once qualified, they have to wait longer than they should to receive care.

In Phoenix, where some of the worst problems surfaced, some veterans had to wait more than a year for first-time appointments with primary-care doctors, according to The Arizona Republic. If that's not bad enough, to cover up how poorly the VA was doing its job, employees allegedly doctored records and made false reports, according to the VA inspector general.

Outrage over the revelations has built at a slow boil, at most. But perhaps that's not surprising. VA officials are not the only ones who could do more to help those who serve their country in the military. As we observe Memorial Day, it's a good time for all of us to take stock of our attitudes toward veterans.

Memorial Day was first observed in the aftermath of the Civil War and eventually expanded into a day to honor Americans who died in all wars. Over time too much of the emphasis has shifted away from those who died in defense of American principles and toward the frivolity of cookouts and the unofficial start of summer. Many factors influenced this change in attitudes. But there's little doubt that views about the holiday and the military in general have shifted as the number of people with a direct connection to World War II has declined and the number of unpopular wars has multiplied. Sometime this year, the number of living U.S. World War II veterans will drop below 1 million, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates.

Most agree that the quality of care for veterans should not be dependent on the popularity of the war in which they served. But the farther removed one is from the consequences of war, the easier it is to assume (or pretend) everyone is OK.

Oregon can be a particularly difficult place for veterans. There are no major military installations and fewer facilities for veterans than in states such as Washington that are home to several bases. The state's political culture puts many things higher on the priority list than the military. And though most people make the distinction that they support veterans even if they don't embrace military action, that nuance is easy to miss when you are struggling to find a job or a doctor to treat the ailments you brought home from war.

As the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan continues, attention to the needs of servicemen and -women slips further into the shadows. Rep. Julie Parrish, R-West Linn, is one of the highest-profile Oregon leaders trying to keep veterans' needs at the forefront. The issue is personal to Parrish. Her husband, Mark, served more than 23 years in the Army and National Guard and fought in both Iraq wars. She sees a disconnect developing between elected leaders with other priorities and "a population of veterans who just don't trust the government."

Parrish is making a third attempt to gather enough petition signatures for a ballot measure to designate 5 percent of Oregon Lottery revenue toward veterans' programs and services – ranging from suicide prevention to employment services to gap health care while they qualify for VA benefits.

The proposal is not necessarily the best solution to the problem of inadequate care for veterans – Oregon needs to find better revenue sources than the lottery for essential services. But with veterans waiting months to see a doctor and committing suicide at the rate of 22 a day, at least someone is trying to find a way to get veterans the help they need.

Meanwhile, this Memorial Day is a good one to remember the original intent of the holiday.